The Philippines-based legal firm VAL has merged with Inicio Law to create a full-service practice, expanding its reach beyond traditional dispute resolution into corporate and commercial sectors.
The two firms are now operating as Vasig Abarquez Ner Urgello Lim Law, although the practice will continue to operate under the VAL name.
This combination broadens the spectrum of practice areas available to clients. The firm has expanded beyond its established strengths in litigation and dispute resolution, labour and employment, arbitration, matrimonial and family law, and property and estate matters to include corporate and commercial law, taxation, special projects, regulatory matters and business advisory services.
The merger also increases the firm’s headcount as it now comprises around 30 lawyers and 22 non-legal professionals across five offices – Makati, Bonifacio Global City, Metro Manila, Cebu and Davao.
Paolo Abarquez will become a founding partner and co-head the litigation and dispute resolution practice group, as well as lead the matrimonial and family, property and estate, and arbitration practices. Alexander Ner will head the taxation practice group, drawing on his experience in tax advisory and controversy, customs matters, cross-border transactions, corporate restructuring and regulatory compliance.
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Maria Pia Altea-Urgello and Mary Aubbrey Leigh Lim will co-head the corporate law and special projects practice group. The former possesses more than 25 years of experience in corporate and commercial law, M&A, banking and finance, energy, infrastructure, insurance, regulatory compliance, data privacy and employment. Lim, who is also a certified public accountant, specialises in corporate and commercial law, M&A, banking and financial services, fintech, technology, foreign investment, restructuring, licensing and regulatory compliance.
Focusing on the Next Decade
As the combined firm approaches its 10th anniversary in 2027, the leadership has outlined a roadmap for the next decade.
“This merger comes at an opportune time for us. As we approach our 10th year, it gives us an opportunity not merely to celebrate how far we have come, but to redefine what VAL can become in its next decade,” Ely Vasig, founding and managing partner of VAL, told Asia Business Law Journal. “This is not simply about becoming larger. It is about becoming more complete.”
The firm’s priority is to build an institution whose reputation exceeds its headcount, known for excellent lawyers, strong judgement, deep expertise, close partner involvement and consistently high-quality work.
“VAL and Inicio have spent their respective histories continuously trying to become better firms. By coming together, we now have the opportunity to pursue that ambition as one stronger and more complete institution,” Vasig said.
